Former Watford MP Richard Harrington has failed in a bid to keep a family court judge’s ruling on a money dispute with his ex-wife from becoming public.
Judge Anne Hudd, who analysed the case in the Central Family Court in London, concluded the findings she made when deliberating the dispute between Richard Harrington and estranged wife Jessie should be made public.
Mr Harrington argued the judge’s ruling should not be made public.
However, the judge said publication was in the public interest.
Mr and Mrs Harrington argued over assets of about £20 million.
Mr Harrington said assets should be divided equally, but Mrs Harrington wanted a 53 per cent share.
Judge Hudd ruled their fortune should be split equally.
The judge said: “Given the issues that arose within these proceedings and the findings that I made about some aspects of (Mr Harrington’s) behaviour and shortcomings in his disclosure, I am satisfied that this is a case in which publication of my judgment would be in the public interest.
“There is a clear public interest in knowing that public figures are subject to the same treatment as other citizens – and although he is no longer in public office he was at the relevant time of my decision and throughout the substantive financial remedy proceedings.”
